Hello folks!
I'm changing my CJ7 instrument cluster -again, this time because the speedometer squeals so bad you can't hear. SO, same problem as last time, the plastic lamp holders that 'pop' into the 5/8" holes on the cluster housing have the steel spring portion pulled out of the plastic portion, and they're not going to go back together and stay. I've searched Ebay and other places for replacements, but no luck, I KNOW someone here must have solved this problem of poor design of these lamp sockets by now. Please share or make reasonable suggestions. Thanks in advance.

If the little barbs are not going back in, straighten them out with pliers and heat them up and they will melt back into the plastic. Allow time to cool or it will pull right back out. If they are just pulling back out and not staying, Ive mixed 2 part high strength epoxy and used one small drop at each barb to secure it back. After its fixed, here's the trick, smear a little grease on the spring loaded fingers so it will pop in and out smoothly. IF there are some stubborn ones, don't pull from the plastic, but insert a thin blade or scraper underneath and gently pry up.